Pre-Production: Secondary Research on London Squat Parties

After scrolling through a vigorous amount of reviews, forums and websites I found an article of 'The Evening Standard' which tells the story of a reporters first hand expeirence at one of London’s more rough Squat parties from an outsiders point of view.

-London squat party Article.

From reading through this we have gathered an idea some of the more important themes with in a realistic squat party. For example, taking drugs is obviously a theme, consequently, this means drugs dealers are also a huge part of the scene.
     Another crucial theme of the concept is to feel free from society and feel as one when everyone is partying together. A squat party is the young person’s form of escapism from society’s restrictions and norms.
      One of the other reasons that we can see from this article is that legal clubs are restricting the way that parties are run. The laws and rules prevent these type of people from fulfilling there idea of a good night - anything a normal person enjoys such as socialising, drinking and dancing, with the addition of factors such as cannabis, class A, informal dress codes, grafting and obviously the main difference in music.
     Which leads us on to the most important difference in the two cultures - taste in music. Squat parties revolve around music genres such as DNB, Jungle, Dubstep and various forms of Trance (pretty much anything which a massive bass line and fast pace). However, the more commercial form of clubber may listen to 'popular culture' music such as RNB, Dance, Commercial Dubstep, and pretty much anything you hear on Capital FM.

These factors are all helping us to shape the form of our opening sequence by including these vital themes and making the opening sequence seem and feel more realistic to portray a solid message about the culture of raving and squat parties.

Pre-Production: Treatment

"Troubled teenager finds a new world in the UK rave scene. Falls too far in to get back up, but would he even want to?"

Title

TBC

Target Audience

Age: 16-24.

Gender: 80% Male. 20% Female.

Interests: Raving, Electronic dance music, Partying, Fashion, Graffiti/Street art, MC-ing, DJ-ing.

Other Media Consumption: Films, Social networking sites, Blogs, YouTube, Magazines (Dazed&Confused, Wonderland, VICE).

Class: Working & Middle.

The themes and representations of our film will appeal to our target audience (TA) through Uses & Gratifications (U&G) theory of Personal Identity, by seeing the rave culture and how it's represented on screen one would be able to relate it to their own life and their representations of the people involved, therefore setting up comparisons of a fairly controversial lifestyle. The film could also relate to personal, second hand experiences they might of had (friends taking the same route of our protagonist). This then links to U&G theory of Social Relationships as one might watch the film to imitate relationships they don't, but would like to have in real life and also as a conversation matter between their peers. 

      The narrative of the film will appeal to our target audience

      The main USP of our film is that it provides an insight into a controversial culture that isn't commonly explored. Our film therefore appeals to our TA through U&G theory Surveillance/Information as one could watch the film to weigh up the risks of getting in to the raving lifestyle, or to simply gain an insight in to what it's like.

Technology

For our production we will be using a HD camcorder for the majority of the filming and an iPhone 4 for the POV rave footage. The HD camcorders will better the finish and overall style of our production, however they are devices that only one of us has used and so our experience is limited and so learning how to use these to a proficient standard will be time consuming 

     For our post production we will be using Final Cut Express® as our primary editing software, this will give us the tools necessary to advance our style of editing as we feel that we would be limited using iMovie. The limitations of this is that neither of us can use the software to a proficient standard as of yet and so will be learning as we go along, which therefore will again be quite time consuming. 

Representations

Our Protagonist, Jamie Petch, is a 17 year old male from the suburbs of London. He is introduced to the scene through an older friend, Jack Adams who used to live local.

We feel that Propp's character types aren't applicable to our storyline. This is a theory mainly explored in high concept, mainstream, Hollywood films. However we will use Goffman's character theory theory:

1. The bit player (minor character whose specific background the audience is not aware of) - This will be Jack Adam's older brother who warms Jamie about getting out of the rave scene, we don't even learn his name but he is key to the turn of the film.
2. The fool (a character that uses humor to convey messages) - This will be Barry McDermot. He just never seems to be down, portraying a positive image on drugs. It seems like nothing effects him in a negative way, always cracking jokes and making people laugh
3. The deuteragonist (secondary character) - We feel that Jack Adams best suits this character type rather than Propp's "antagonist" label, because Jack doesn't intentionally drag Jamie down. He doesn't purposely clash or obscure Jamies goals and in his death motivates Jamie to turn his life around.

Our film will intially subvert the typical representations of squatter/raver community as the first half of the film shows the highs and positives of this lifestyle and the people involved. However this representation changes around mid way in the film where Jamie, after Jacks death, want's to get out but receives no help from his supposed 'friends'. This shows the stereotypical representation of the afore said group being selfish and detached.


Narrative

Our film follows a teenage boy from the outskirts of London as he falls into the squat party/rave lifestyle and goes off the rails. He thinks everything's going great but doesn't realise that all the securities of his old life are slipping through his fingers. When he loses one of his best mates to a drug overdose, reality kicks back in and he realises he wants his old life back, but it's too late. 

Our opening sequence starts off with Jamie's teacher confronting him about his recent slant in effort, attendace and overall wellbeing/appearance. This sparks a speech from a seemingly quiet Jamie, this monolgue then continues as a voiceover for the rest of the sequence, the things he talks about are shown in seperate footage through crosscutting. For example when talking about the raves themself, real footage shot using 'free camera' technique is shown.

The camera movement will be minimal to connote the lack of funds for a typical BSR film and this will add to the realistic representation of the subjects and topics explored. Our rave footage will be shaky, this is an idea we got from the opening sequence of 'Cathy Come Home' (1964, Ken Loach) where a similiar technique is used when Cathy and her friend are walking down the street.

     Our opening sequence will use real life, urban, locations, which will signify the gritty, true to life, working class environments. This is a major convention of the BSR genre. Used also for budget restrictions.

    We will be introducing the themes instead of the plot of the film. Also we will be including titles for instiutional comapanys, actors and key crew. There will be use of super imposed graphics and engaging music.

Conventions

There will be a big focus on costume; One, because this will be a realistic representation of the raving culture and Two, because these costumes are ones we have to hand and therefore will keep the budget low.
Our main themes are drugs, niche music and coming of age. These are key themes of the BSR genre, therefore we are conforming to the BSR conventions through the inclusion of said themes. The first half of our film could be seen as slightly high concept (showing the high points of the culture, this is only done to create a more shocking contrast when everything falls apart in the second half of the film. This then conforms to the grity tone of BSR films. This could be seen as a hybrid element, which we take on as part of our USP.


Style & Iconography

We will use minimal camerawork when showing Jamie in his normal day to day life. We will be communicating the mundane, slow pace of his life with stationary shots and abstract/canted angles. But when showing the rave scenes we will use the 'shaky/free camera' technique. This will connote how busy and hectic this scene is and excite the audience, leaving them waiting for the weekend in the film, along side jamie.
    
Again with editing we will use very simple editing techniques through Jamie's school week, lots of continuity editing to connote the realistic movements of his day to day life. Long takes will be included in these sections too along with long shot reverse shots. However at the rave scenes lots of jump cuts will be used to connote the intoxication and we will experiment with the effects of 'seeing double' to further this too.

We will be using typical raving costume, this is available to us through friends. Props will be drugs (not real) to signify that the main theme of drugs in the film. There will also be alcohol and possibly condoms to connote the underage sex which was asked for in our Vox Pox.

The main sound will be a monologue from Jamie over the top of a fairly calm but upbeat electronic track made by a friend of mine, who's given be full permission to use it. The monologue will walk the audience through the positive aspects of the culture, slating anything that goes against it. We also may use some sound from footage we have from real raves, depending on what we can get permission for.



Institution

The production company being Film4, means that we will have to abide by certain ideologies to maintain the company's ethos. Given this we will be producing a gritty, true to life BSR film. Which is based around working class people in urban areas dealing with everyday struggles which on a wider scale aren't really that significant.

We would go with 'Dogwoof Indie' as the distributors of our film. They are a London based company who we believe would be interested in our film for the themes and ideologies explored. Whereas a bigger, more mainstream company would be solely focused on making a profit.

We would enter our film in to festivals: Sundance, Cannes, Raindance... Hopefully we would then pick up a contract for a string of art houses. As for home exhibition we would have it put up on LoveFilm, Apple, YouTube Rentals and Film4OD. These are easily accessible and cheap for each party, reaching a wide audience for a little budget. These New Media Technology mediums of home exhibitionwould appeal to our 16-24 year old target audience as computers are part of their everyday lives.

Pre-Production: Our Vox Pox. Audience Research

Pre-Production: 25 Word Pitch

"Troubled teenager finds a new world in the UK rave scene. Falls too far in to get back up, but would he even want to?"

Pre-Production: Sound Analysis for AdULTHOOD opening sequence

Sound is a big part of the opening sequence for AdULTHOOD. The first 55 seconds is a flash back to fill the audience in on what happened in the first film, Kidulthood.
      We then hear a beat to a grime song with the sound of traffic in the background, the traffic uses sound perspective to show the cars getting closer, then the whole beat comes in with 'Ghetts' rapping, a popular grime artist in London, this is at first non-diagetic but there is a sound bridge to where we see the sound system playing the song. The lyrics are about how Ghetts likes to party and drink alcohol this is synchronous sound as the film is showing people dancing who are probably drunk. There is also a shot of two black male youths rolling up and sparking a zoot of weed which we hear them breathe in and out. Through this whole scene there is the diegetic sound of people dancing and shouting which is also synchronous sound as we can see them doing this, all of these circumstances connote they are at a rave, which will most definitely be illegal, which goes with all the things Ghetts and the other rappers are talking about in the song. All of these aspects, the drink, drugs and busy party life appeals to the niche British, working class, audience as they can relate to the things said and the issues dealt with.
      The accent that the young characters speak with connotes that they are from London and their dialogue is filled with colloquialisms which would connote that they are working class. This would appeal to someone from a working class background who is familiar with the dialect and language used.
     Other key sounds are the smashing of a car window, the struggle of a fight and a gun shot. This is all foley sound, created in pre-production. This sound connotes the rougher side of the lifestyle, this would appeal to people who are currently involved in this lifestyle, to gain an insight from a different perspective or someone who is familiar with it, lives around it.
    The sound in the opening sequence to AdULTHOOD sets up many of the key themes for the film, drugs, grime music and violence. It's a big part in the representation of the key group of characters. I like that the song has a lot to do with what's being seen on screen. I also think like the way the sound bridge ties in the busy motorway with the rave, establishing that the area is urban and full of life, the themes of the song suggesting why the area is so busy and full of life! I will look to make a similar connection in my production.

Pre-Production: Audience research questions for vox pops

What are some BSR films you like?

Age of protagonist?

Gender of protagonist?

What do you think of our idea?

What controversial issues would you like to see in a BSR?

What are your views on illicit drugs being shown in films?

Pre-Production: Conventions of Opening Sequences (Blue Valentine)

Director

Quite obviously the directors name is shown to tell the audience who directed the film, how ever this could be a selling point for the film if the director is known or acclaimed. The font is quite stylish, quite modern and the colour is off white, almost a faded beige, this connotes that the film will be quite stylish, with a nice finish and that it will be soft, as beige is a less contrasting colour than white on a black background.

Introducing Characters

Quite a few characters are shown in this opening sequence, the main ones are these two, played by Ryan Goslin and Michelle Williams. They have the majority of the screen time this connotes that they will be the main characters in the film and the chosen pictures of them are all either hugs, kisses or lifts. All are quite intimate and emotional, this symbolises to the audience that the film will be about their relationship. And so allows them to set their expectations.

Actors

The main actors names are mentioned, Ryan Gosling is the key selling cast in this film as he was also an executive producer for it as well. The actors names are used to inform the audience who's in the film, this may even be one of the main reasons someone might go to see the film, this makes naming the actors quite an important convention to include. The audience would set up expectations for the film due to type casting, for example, if you see that Jason Statham is in a film, there's a good chance there won't be a lot of romance but you would expect a lot of action and fighting. Ryan Gosling is known for quite serious films, usually dramas mixed with romance.

Film Title

The title of the film is shown for obvious reasons, to tell the audience the title of the film. This title allows the audience to set expectations for the film. Valentine is linked with love, so there will almost certainly be a love story however Blue isn't the colour we would usually link with love, we'd usually use red and so this connotes that this might not be a happy love story but one with a sad underlying tone. Again set in off white to create a softer effect and written in what looks to be Helvetica, typical stylish font, typically hip, connotes style and trendiness.  

Producers

This is to let the audience know who the producers were for the film, this again can be used as a selling point if not purely informational or for credibility. If a producer is fairly well known then he or she will most probably have a genre that they are known for and so the audience will set up an expectation of the film based on the usual work of a certain producer. 

Introduce Themes/Ideology

The dancing position along with the eye contact, smile and red roses connote that a main theme in this film will be love and romance. This establishes the genre as it hints quite loudly that the main theme is love, the audience would pick up on this genre and then create expectations from it. The colour palette is a lovely golden orange/yellow, it's all very low lit romanticism and really quite stylish.

Super Imposed Graphics

This title and the majority of the others are super imposed on to images in the background, these images are then masked cleverly by the sparks of CGI fireworks. The images on the back ground is a still image with a very light ken burns effect applied to it, the super imposed titles are also still however by the movement of the 'fireworks' the whole shot becomes very alive whilst maintaining a calm, slow build. Again conforming to the pace and style of the romantic genre.

Intrigue/Enigma

There are many different images of different people hugging each other, kissing, embracing and crashed out on the floor. With no words intrigue is created and our brains start to work out who loves who and what caused this relationship to happen or to fall apart. The masking fireworks effect is a big help in creating this intrigue too as you never see the full image only parts and so are left trying to work out the rest of the image. Already the audience is trying to piece together a puzzle, this creates the expectation that this film will be a bit of a puzzle itself.

Engaging Music

The song played is called Alligator by a band called Grizzly Bear. Jim Elton, the Editor, said  "Everything about this song was right, from the tone to the lyrics to the cinematic quality it lends to the sequence." And he's right, it's a strange piece of music, it has almost a dream like quality, like something you would hear as you were falling in to a deep sleep. It's unnatural but has many major lifts and beautiful romantic chords. However it's not all beautiful and straight which is why it works so well. The audience would feel both unnerved by the music whilst finding it quite pleasant, I would think.